Soldier of Fortune represented by first winner

Classic winner Soldier of Fortune, a freshman sire at Haras du Logis Saint-Germain in France, was represented by his first winner June 26, when Fire Fighting scored a dead-heat win at Kempton Racecourse in England.

Fire Fighting, a bay colt owned by Alan Spence, led early and battled back when challenged by Extra Noble to finish on even terms with that foe. He covered seven furlongs in 1:26.82 on Kempton’s all-weather surface. The colt was making his third career start after finishing sixth in his debut in May at Pontefract, then fourth in his second try earlier this month at Haydock.

Trainer Mark Johnston purchased Fire Fighting for 70,000 euros, or about $86,300, at the Arqana Deauville August yearling sale last year from Haras du Quesnay, agent. Fire Fighting is out of the stakes-winning Anabaa mare Savoie and is from the family of Group 1 winner Sillery and Group 2 winner Silver Pond as well as several listed stakes winners.

Soldier of Fortune, a 9-year-old Irish-bred son of Galileo, won 6 of 13 starts and earned $2,654,826 in three seasons of racing. He won five group stakes for owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith and trainer Aidan O’Brien, highlighted by a dominant nine-length score in the 2007 Irish Derby and a win in the following year's Group 1 Coronation Cup. In his final two starts, Soldier of Fortune finished third in the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

Soldier of Fortune is out of the stakes-winning Erins Isle mare Affianced and is a full brother to Group 3 winner Heliostatic and a half-brother to stakes winner Carraiglawn. He stands for an advertised fee of 10,000 euros, or about $13,000, at Haras du Logis-Saint Germain for a partnership that includes Coolmore Stud, and has 81 foals in his first crop.